Balloon tours draw big interest

ANKARA - Anatolia News Agency

DHA photo

About 140 hot-air balloons owned by 17 companies in the Cappadocia region of central Anatolia serve 450,000-500,000 people annually. With per-person fees averaging around 70 euros, the annual return on balloon travel amounts to 33,250 million euros.

Nearly 1,300 people working in the region’s hot-air balloon industry, according to information provided by the General Directorate of Civil Aviation.

While balloons work in the region throughout the year, the peak seasons are between March 15 and May 31 and Sept. 1 and Nov. 15. Japanese visitors account for the highest number of tourists choosing to take balloon tours, followed by Korean, German, Spanish, French and South American tourists.

Other sectors that are developing alongside hot-air balloon tourism include transportation, hotels and restaurants. The increased number of tourists also means increased sales of carpets, jewelry and pottery.